After 20 years at the helm, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong is stepping down as Secretary-General of the People’s Action Party (PAP).
He said this during a speech during the PAP Conference 2024 on Sunday (24 Nov).
Source: Lee Hsien Loong on YouTube
During his speech at the Singapore Expo, Mr Lee said it would be his last at the party conference as the PAP Secretary-General.
The next time the PAP Central Executive Committee (CEC) meets, typically within a few weeks of the conference, he will propose that Prime Minister Lawrence Wong take over as the next party chief.
This will complete the leadership transition, he added — a seamless handover that has now taken place three times in a row.
Indeed, he noted that foreign leaders he met had “expressed astonishment” at how uneventful Singapore’s leadership transition was, as other political parties in other countries can be beset by internal rivalries.
On Saturday (22 Nov), the first day of the PAP Conference, the party paid tribute to Mr Lee, it said in a statement.
PAP Chairman Heng Swee Keat lauded his dedication and leadership throughout major events such as the Global Financial Crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic.
Source: People’s Action Party
His leadership also ensured the PAP’s “continued strength amid a growing opposition presence”, he added, with PAP saying:
The party is grateful to Secretary-General Lee for his exemplary leadership, service and contributions to the party.
Mr Heng then presented Mr Lee with a gift on behalf of the party — a painting by local artist Lee Kow Fong, better known as “Ah Guo”, of him interacting with locals at a hawker centre.
Source: TG_Connects! (Teck Ghee) on Facebook
In a post on the official Facebook page of the PAP Teck Ghee Branch, Mr Lee said he was “grateful to receive this token of appreciation”.
In a nod to his “magic language-changing cup”, he added that those on stage didn’t have them but instead made a toast with special commemorative cups that depict Singapore’s four prime ministers so far.
Source: TG_Connects! (Teck Ghee) on Facebook
Mr Lee joined politics 40 years ago in 1984 and started by serving PAP’s Teck Ghee Branch.
He became Secretary-General in November 2004, months after becoming Prime Minister.
Over his 20 years in the post, he led 10 successive iterations of the CEC, PAP’s top decision-making body.
Also read: No Guarantee PAP Will Win Next GE, Party Will Work Hard To Regain Lost Seats: Lawrence Wong
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Featured image adapted from Lee Hsien Loong on YouTube and Lawrence Wong on Facebook.
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